Memorial flowerpot holder



March 11, 1969 L. E. PENNEY 3,432,136

MEMORIAL FLOWERPOT HOLDER Filed ngarch 27, 1967 INVENTOR 1512' 1:1 Reyna/err ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The memorial flowerpot holder of this invention includes a tab or plate having (1) a first horizontally extending portion which is adapted for insertion under the die of a two-piece monument, for example, and (2) a second portion which extends in a direction inclined wit-h respect to the vertical by an angle of approximately 9. Connected to the second portion of the tab is a rod having (1) a first portion which also extends in the same direction as the second portion of the tab, (2) a second portion of the 'rod which is formed into a loop or ring adapted to receive flowerpots or the like, and (3) a third portion which is disposed adjacent the bottom of the second portion of the tab, the third portion horizontally extending in a direction opposite from that of the first portion of the tab thereby providing additional support for the pot holder.

Background of the invention This invention relates to memorial flowerpot holders and, in particular, to pot holders of simple design which are readily adapted to mass production at an economical and reasonable cost.

The state of the prior art in the above field is evidenced by the U.S. patents to F. A. Holmes 1,843,602, Feb. 2, 1932; A. Consolazio, 1,930,673, Oct. 17, 1933; and J. Cannon, 1,727,463, Sept. 10, 1929. Holmes, FIGURE 1, shows permanent flowerpots 3 which support a headstone 1. Consolazio, FIGURE 1, shows a flowerpot holder which is adapted for attachment to a wall or the like, while Cannon shows in FIGURES 1-3 a perpetual care sign which is inserted between the die 6 and base of a monument.

The U.S. patents to Austin 1,077,027, Oct. 28, 1913; Ellingson 2,235,986, Mar. 25, 1941; and Moltrup 2,510,- 244, June 6, 1950, evidenced prior art which is more remote from the present invention than the prior art described above. Austin discloses a basin holder which is secured to a wall in a manner similar to the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned Consolazio patent. Ellingson, FIGURE 5, discloses a basin holder adapted for insertion under a mattress .while Moltrup discloses a garment support adapted for insertion under rear seat cushion 5 Summary In applicants invention a memorial flowerpot holder of attractive design is provided, the pot holder being of unitary construction. Further, the pot holder is readily mass produced, is easily installed, is eflectively theft-proof, and is easily maintained.

The flowerpot holder of the present invention is the only one of its type which is effectively theft-proof while at the same time easily maintained. Thus, when used as a memorial flowerpot holder in a cemetery, the pot holder may be simply installed on existing or new memorials by any monument dealer. The installation requires but a single and practical step where a plate is inserted between the base and die of a memorial. When properly installed, the weight of the memorial plus the memorial setting compound make the pot holder effectively theft-proof. Further, because of the simple construction of the pot holder of the present invention, maintenance costs are kept at a minimum, this being particularly attractive to cemeteries where maintenance costs tend to be generally high and therefore of great concern to the cemeteries.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a memorial flowpot holder of simple construction thereby facilitating simple maintenance.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a pot holder which is easily installed while at the same time being theft-proof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a memorial flowerpot holder which is functional, rustproof, and attractive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the claims and the drawings.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is an isometric illustration of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURES 2-4 are plan, side and front views of a memorial flowerpot holder in accordance with the invention wherein the pot holder is shown in relation to a twopiece monument.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown an isometric view of the prefer-red embodiment of the invention. Only two pieces are required, these being a tab or plate generally indicated at 10 and a rod generally indicated at 12. The tab 10 includes a horizontally extending first portion 14 and a second portion 16 which extends in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle. Typically this angle is approximately 9 as shown in FIGURE 3, although other angular inclinations would be suitable depending on the application. Typically, portion 14 is six inches long and four inches wide while portion 16 is four inches long, four inches wide at the bottom and slightly less than three inches wide at the top. Further, the thickness of tab 10 is preferably 12 gauge.

Rod 12 comprises a first portion which includes rod portions 18 and 20, which are connected. to portion 16 of tab '10 by spot welding or by any other suitable method. A second portion 22 of rod 10 is formed into a loop or ring for receiving the flowerpot, which is indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Typically, the height of the ring is 12 inches with respect to the portion 14 of tab 10. The ends 24 of rod 10 are in juxtaposition as shown in FIGURE 1 so that flowerpots of various sizes may be accommodated-that is, the ends 24 are not welded together so the ring diameter may be adjusted to receive various size pots. Typically the internal diameter of the ring is eight inches while the diameter of rod 12 is threeeighths inch.

A third portion 26 of rod is formed into a semicircular loop as shown in FIGURE 1. Portion 26 extends in a horizontal direction opposite from that of portion '14 of tab 10 and provides additional support for the pot holder. This additional support is very helpful when the holder is used in other applications than with cemetery monuments or markers. Thus, if the holder is used on porches, steps, or walks, the mounting holes 28-32 provided in portion 14 of tab 10 may be employed wherein the holder would be secured to a porch, for example, by appropriate screws placed through the holes 28-32. Note that when the tab 10 is inserted under the: die of a twopiece monument, for example, no drilling or other action which would permanently affect the memorial is required.

If the portion 26 of rod 10 is not employed, the second portion including rod portions 18 and 20 may 'be spot 3 welded to the inside of portion 16 rather than to the outside thereof as shown in FIGURE 1. However, the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 is preferred.

Referring to FIGURES 2-4, there is shown the flowerpot holder of FIGURE I mounted with respect to a twopiece monument including a die 34 and a base 36. Of course, the pot holder of this invention could also be used with a marker of relatively small or large size with respect to the die illustrated in FIGURES 24 where the tab 10 would be inserted between the marker and concrete buttment. As shown in FIGURES 2-4, the tab 10 is inserted between die 34 and base 36. Thus, when properly installed, the weight of the die 34 plus the setting compound make theft extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Because of the simple method of attachment of the pot holder to the memorial and because of the simplicity of construction (two parts: tab 10 and rod 12), maintenance of the flowerpot holder is reduced to an absolute minimum as are production costs. Further, since the holder is made entirely of stainless steel, it is rustproof.

Although only one embodiment of the invention, together with a modification thereof, has been described, it is to be understood that still further modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit a direction inclined with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle and (2) substantially above the plane of said first horizontally extending portion; and a rod member having a first portion connected to the said second portion of the tab member, said first rod portion extending in the same upward direction as the second portion of the tab member and a second portion connected to the top of the first portion of said rod member having a loop shape for receiving the flowerpots.

2. A memorial flowerpot holder as in claim 1 where the ends of said rod member are in juxtaposition in said loop-shaped second portion so that said flowerpot holder will accommodate flowerpots of various sizes.

3. A memorial flowerpot holder as in claim 1 where said rod member includes a third portion which horizontally extends in a direction opposite from the first portion of said tab member thereby providing additional support for said flowerpot holder.

4. A memorial flowerpot holder as in claim 3 where said first portion of said tab member includes a plurality of holes for further facilitating the attachment of said pot holder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,975 10/1909 Abel 24899 X 1,424,387 8/1922 Wills 248-94 2,302,737 11/1942 Bearden 248--225 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

I. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 47-41; 248-278 

